Minutes of the last meeting, taken by Amy Shields, were read. Thanks Amy!
Treasurer's Report: $1159.47
Old and Continuing Business:
Foresight Vol. 34, No. 4 (1998) has been published and distributed.
Congratulations and thanks to Rick Walk!
Stream Team: Anna Dennis is looking to set up monitoring sites, possibly in
Gans
Creek upstream of the Devil's Ice Box, or in the Spring Cave stream. She is
looking for help with this project. Contact her at 442-2497 or email
amd4407@aol.com
New Business
Patti Williamson informed us that off-tour portions of Fisher Cave in Meramec
State Park may be visited by special arrangement by groups of up to 20. This
may
be a good trip for the Grotto. The park is also looking for help in mapping
Fisher
Cave. Mike Morgan reminded us that Grotto members will be needed to help map
Hunter's Cave.
1999 NSS Convention Reports. Those who attended the convention in Idaho
reported
that the convention was very well done and that there was "lots of lava" to
visit.
Several reports were about surface adventures including ramen noodle
wrestling,
adventures with broken down vehicles and trips to the great national parks en
route to the convention. Rick Walk was awarded NSS fellow status at the
convention: Well done Rick!
Local caving reports: Daryl Greaser and Bob Lerch visited Spring Cave, where
Daryl
had an extraordinary snorkeling adventure through one sump and into walking
passage. There is more back there, he says, and he is planning a return...
Upcoming Trips: Anna Dennis is planning a float trip on the Upper Jack's Fork,
with a visit to JamUp Cave. Contact her at the number above.
Fall TAG Cave-In. Rick announced that non-NSS members may attend, but must do
so
by registering with an NSS member before the event.
MoKEG Web Site. Bob Lerch has this up and running; it will soon be linked the
Grotto Web Site and others. URL is:
http://www.fse.missouri.edu/ARS/arsnew/LerchB/cave.htm
Relocation of Daryl Greaser to Montana in January 2000. This unfortunate event for
the Grotto and Missouri caves will require several of us to take up Daryl's many
posts. Rita Wordin will become trip coordinator. Patti Williamson will do the
Grotto Newsletter. The MSS representative to replace Daryl will be chosen at the
December meeting.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Superintendent Scott Schulte reminded us that a
tape, clinometer and compass are kept at the Park office and may be used by Grotto
members. Please call ahead to make the sure the equipment will be available when
you need it.
Scott also invited Grotto members to participate in the September 25 cave rescue
drill/workshop. 13 members present signed up! There will be more information on
this exercise at the September grotto meeting.
Chouteau Grotto 40th Anniversary Celebration. Because of several date conflicts
(including the rescue drill) and the need for adequate time to prepare for this
event, it has been postponed until 2000. A committee of five, headed by Daryl
Greaser until his departure, will put together the event. The other committee
members are Rita Wordin, David Webster, Rick Walk and Jeff Williams. David has
prepared a list of 122 former members of the Grotto and will work with Rick Walk
to track these souls down. David also donated some Grotto memorabilia to the
Grotto; Rick will archive them. Many thanks to David!
Annual Chicken Roast: This will on September 18 at Rita Wordin's place.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 PM.
Rick Walk showed two short videos: a news feature about Bob Lerch's MoKEG work,
and a very amusing NSS spoof entitled "We're Cavers and We're Rescuers."
